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Pete's a Pizza
Pete's father starts kneading the dough. Next, some oil is generously applied. (It's really water.) And then some tomatoes. (They're really checkers.) When the dough gets tickled, it laughs like crazy.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 1998
15 people are currently reading
1318 people want to read
About the author
William Steig
138 books429 followersWilliam Steig was born in New York City in 1907. In a family where every member was involved in the arts, it was not surprising that Steig became an artist.
He published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968, embarking on a new and very different career.
Steig's books reflect his conviction that children want the security of a devoted family and friends. When Sylvester, Farmer Palmer, Abel, Pearl, Gorky, Solomon, and Irene eventually get home, their families are all waiting, and beginning with Amos & Boris, friendship is celebrated in story after story.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/willia...
He published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968, embarking on a new and very different career.
Steig's books reflect his conviction that children want the security of a devoted family and friends. When Sylvester, Farmer Palmer, Abel, Pearl, Gorky, Solomon, and Irene eventually get home, their families are all waiting, and beginning with Amos & Boris, friendship is celebrated in story after story.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/willia...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 346 reviews
May 6, 2024
Oh the memories I have of reading Pete's a Pizza to our son when he was a toddler. He received this as a gift from his book loving grandparents and we could not read this bedtime favorite often enough. I still remember - with heartwarming fondness - his nonstop giggling while listening to us act out the antics on the pages in this silly and absolutely delightful story. Pete's a Pizza is a truly wonderful tale for the ages, and I cannot sing its praises highly enough.
May 18, 2019
This beginning book is quite funny. It has few words and is a quick read. Pete has to stay home since it’s raining and he gets very sad. So his father decides to make Pete into a pizza to cheer him up. He rolls the dough, and prepares the dough and cooks the pizza with all the toppings on him. It’s all pretend, but the kid loves it and he isn’t so sad. It’s really funny to see on the page.
Of course, this got in my nephews head so the next day he had to be made into a pizza by his dad, who gladly did this. There were laughs and giggles aplenty and the niece had to be made into a pizza too. The nephew gave it 5 stars.
Of course, this got in my nephews head so the next day he had to be made into a pizza by his dad, who gladly did this. There were laughs and giggles aplenty and the niece had to be made into a pizza too. The nephew gave it 5 stars.
May 28, 2017
Don't let the zombies get this recipe!
September 16, 2025
This is hilarious! And parents, I warn you now, make a little time for the reading of this book and what your kids will want to do after! It will be time well spent.
Here’s what we did: watch the reel!
Ages 3+
Content Considerations: The little boy is in a bad mood on the first page because it's raining and he can't play outside. His bad mood is soon remedied. *Note: You can easily swap out "bad mood" and put in "sad mood" for any parents wishing to avoid any confusion about being rewarded for an "inappropriate attitude."
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Here’s what we did: watch the reel!
Ages 3+
Content Considerations: The little boy is in a bad mood on the first page because it's raining and he can't play outside. His bad mood is soon remedied. *Note: You can easily swap out "bad mood" and put in "sad mood" for any parents wishing to avoid any confusion about being rewarded for an "inappropriate attitude."
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
July 14, 2008
This book is just lovely. I read it while waiting at an elementary school to do some classroom observations for my teaching degree. It was the kind of school that had sofas in the front office and book shelves full of books for children to read anytime. I picked up the book, read it in a couple of minutes and couldn't stop smiling for the rest of the day. It is such a sweet-natured story about the kind of family everyone wants. Best of all, it reminds me of my mom. It has the silliness, creativity and that vigor for life that she always showed us when we were growing up. She did things like this when we were kids and now does them with my kids too. How lucky I am to have my mom, and how lucky we all are to have this book!
January 29, 2008
Pete is crabby because it's raining outside, so his dad decides to make him into a pizza. So funny. Ava listens to this story with that cautious smile/giggle, as if trying to determine how serious these parents are about making their child into dinner.
But then, we do like to make Penelope Burritos, so she has some exposure to good ole' playtime family cannibalism.
But then, we do like to make Penelope Burritos, so she has some exposure to good ole' playtime family cannibalism.
June 11, 2011
When I looked at the title of this book, I was thinking about the little song that plays on the “Little Caesar’s” pizza commercials, “Pizza! Pizza!” Anyway, “Pete’s a Pizza” is a children’s book by popular children’s author William Steig and it is about how Pete was miserable on a rainy day, so to help make Pete feel better, his parents decided to play a game with Pete where they pretend that Pete is a pizza! “Pete’s a Pizza” is a truly cute book that children will easily love for many years!
The story starts off with a little boy named Pete being in a bad mood because he was supposed to play ball with his friends when it started to rain. Pete’s father saw how miserable Pete was and he decided to play a game with Pete where he turns Pete into a pizza!
Alright, this book might seem a bit too short for a story about a child playing indoor games with his parents, but this was one truly cute book! What was so memorable about this book was that the game that Pete played with his parents was based on the same game that author William Steig used to play with his youngest daughter Maggie. William Steig has truly made this book extremely cute and simple as I often find myself giggling at the images of Pete being thrown around like a pizza and how his parents used all manner of objects such as pieces of paper used as cheese and checker pieces used as slices of tomatoes, to make Pete into a pizza. While I thought that this game was a bit unusual since I have never heard of many parents doing this sort of game with their children, I really thought it was cute and I loved seeing the close relationship that Pete has with his parents, especially during a rainy day! I really loved William Steig’s illustrations as Pete has red hair and a white shirt with red stripes and purple pants and the illustrations that really stood out the most for me were of Pete’s parents pretending that Pete was a pizza by rolling him on the table and throwing miscellaneous items on him for the toppings.
Overall, “Pete’s a Pizza” is a truly adorable book for children that love playing indoor games with their parents and a great book that helps explain the importance of family bonding that many children will love for many years! I would recommend this book to children ages three and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book.
The story starts off with a little boy named Pete being in a bad mood because he was supposed to play ball with his friends when it started to rain. Pete’s father saw how miserable Pete was and he decided to play a game with Pete where he turns Pete into a pizza!
Alright, this book might seem a bit too short for a story about a child playing indoor games with his parents, but this was one truly cute book! What was so memorable about this book was that the game that Pete played with his parents was based on the same game that author William Steig used to play with his youngest daughter Maggie. William Steig has truly made this book extremely cute and simple as I often find myself giggling at the images of Pete being thrown around like a pizza and how his parents used all manner of objects such as pieces of paper used as cheese and checker pieces used as slices of tomatoes, to make Pete into a pizza. While I thought that this game was a bit unusual since I have never heard of many parents doing this sort of game with their children, I really thought it was cute and I loved seeing the close relationship that Pete has with his parents, especially during a rainy day! I really loved William Steig’s illustrations as Pete has red hair and a white shirt with red stripes and purple pants and the illustrations that really stood out the most for me were of Pete’s parents pretending that Pete was a pizza by rolling him on the table and throwing miscellaneous items on him for the toppings.
Overall, “Pete’s a Pizza” is a truly adorable book for children that love playing indoor games with their parents and a great book that helps explain the importance of family bonding that many children will love for many years! I would recommend this book to children ages three and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book.
September 22, 2011
I love this book because it shows how just a bit of imagination and lots of love can cheer up a child who's having a bad day. Pete is disappointed that it's raining when he wants to play with the guys. His father decides to cheer Pete up by making Pete into a pizza. He sets Pete down on the kitchen table and starts kneading the dough. Other imaginative ingredients are added, and soon pizza Pete is ready for the oven. It's a fun book with amusing illustrations that just might help to brighten someone's mood. Be prepared to make your child into a pizza when you've finished reading.
January 6, 2017
Pete is having the rainy day blahs and his father decides to make him a pizza. The fun wordplay is a great set-up for a sure-fire cure for a bad mood. An endearing picture book with a nice reminder that rainy days can be fun.
June 11, 2017
Not a typical Steig book. Most of his books are whimsical, and this one definitely is, too, but in a different way than most of his stories.
September 26, 2012
Pete’s in a horrible mood. He was supposed to go outside to play ball with his friends, but then it rained. Pete’s father notices his sons sulking and decides the best way to cheer him up will be to make him into a pizza. So he puts Pete on the table and begins to knead the dough. He stretches it and tosses it in the air. He adds some oil (it’s really water) and flour (it’s really talcum powder) and then begins adding toppings to the pizza. By the time Pete’s father takes the pizza out of the oven (it’s really the sofa), it’s clear the pizza is anything but grumpy. And what’s even better, the sun has come out! So the pizza, I mean Pete, heads outside to find his friends.
Based on a game Steig used to play with his daughter, the text and illustrations radiate the warmth of a loving parent-child relationship. The simple text is printed in all capitals at the bottom of each page. The illustrations, done in Steig’s signature pen and watercolor style, are brightly patterns and filled with a fun and funny family.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
Based on a game Steig used to play with his daughter, the text and illustrations radiate the warmth of a loving parent-child relationship. The simple text is printed in all capitals at the bottom of each page. The illustrations, done in Steig’s signature pen and watercolor style, are brightly patterns and filled with a fun and funny family.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
May 31, 2019
I know this is meant to be a completely innocent book, so I feel bad leaving this review, but it honestly feels extremely uncomfortable to me, personally. It reminds me of the kind of "game" my Creepy Uncle kept trying to play with us kids before my parents told him to never come over again. I feel like someone should at least extend a warning that this book may be disturbing to kids who have had similar experiences, hence the review I'm leaving.
In an ideal world, an innocent book like this, about affectionate touching and innocent imaginings between children and adults would never cause distress in anyone - but we don't live in a perfect world, and unfortunately some adults would use (and have done) things like the "pizza game" as an excuse to touch children in strange ways.
Just something to be aware of.
In an ideal world, an innocent book like this, about affectionate touching and innocent imaginings between children and adults would never cause distress in anyone - but we don't live in a perfect world, and unfortunately some adults would use (and have done) things like the "pizza game" as an excuse to touch children in strange ways.
Just something to be aware of.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2024
Part of the Treasury of Picture books I own. I really thought this story was cute. I thought it would be a fun book to act out with a child and thought it was cute how the father cheered up his son.
When Natalie got to be about 15 months old, this became a favorite at bed time for a while. Mike and I got in a routine where I read the story, and he said the parts in parenthesis. Natalie eventually knew this and would remind Daddy to do his part if he wasn't paying attention. This was also one of the first stories Natalie asked for by name.
When Natalie got to be about 15 months old, this became a favorite at bed time for a while. Mike and I got in a routine where I read the story, and he said the parts in parenthesis. Natalie eventually knew this and would remind Daddy to do his part if he wasn't paying attention. This was also one of the first stories Natalie asked for by name.
March 25, 2010
This just totally reminded me of that feeling of being a p---ed off little kid and how the adults would suddenly get all goofy on you and then it was just impossible not to revel in your happiness. Man... my family is really cool.
January 7, 2017
Pete's a Pizza is one of my favorite Steig books. It is absolutely joyous and fun. The day is rainy and Pete is bummed and bored. So his parent's pretend that they are making a pizza-out of him! It is a wonderful family/bonding story. A strong five stars!
March 16, 2008
Wow. I love the simplicity and brevity of this story. It’s so sweet, a very charming, lovely tale. I love way it evoked a sense of nostalgia, the warmth of a different time.
May 6, 2009
Hank loves this book soooo...
If you haven't made your kid into a pizza, you should try, they will like it and you will too.
;)
If you haven't made your kid into a pizza, you should try, they will like it and you will too.
;)
May 12, 2016
I mean, it's called Pete's a Pizza, so I don't know what I expected...but I wasn't a fan. Something about it just rubbed me the wrong way.
October 5, 2017
Istruzioni per l'uso: procuratevi un bambino, aprite il libro e...cominciate ad impastare. Buon divertimento.
Consigliato soprattutto per bimbi timidi, padri frettolosi,
Consigliato soprattutto per bimbi timidi, padri frettolosi,
October 10, 2022
I read this book to our three-year-old daughter a week ago and she has since asked me to read it to her every day.
May 13, 2010
This goes ridiculously over the heads of any kid in the intended age group. Illustrations are odd, text is even weirder, and it's not even funny (though it's meant to be). Worst depression/mood picture book EVER.
July 8, 2014
2004
2005
It's a fun book, and even more fun when you try out the recipe at home.
2005
It's a fun book, and even more fun when you try out the recipe at home.
March 16, 2017
Fun. Pete's a = Pizza.
May 20, 2023
Not what I expected, and I really liked it. The cover gives you no clue what's coming. At first it was weird to see a Dad making his son into a pizza, but then it was just fun. And it turned the kid's mood around so quickly. A great ode to improv!
January 6, 2024
This is the cutest, quirkiest picture book! My oldest daughter discovered it at the library today and we were totally smitten. The premise is darling – Pete has to spend the day indoors when it starts to rain, and his darling dad pretends to make him into a pizza – so silly, so sweet. Will be purchasing a copy for our home library!
July 28, 2018
Why haven't I used this in storytime before? It was a huge hit with everyone. Highly recommend!
April 6, 2019
I am pumped to read this at my super rambunctious preschool storytime. Gonna have all the kids be pizzas while the caregivers top them off.
March 16, 2020
Really cute book.
Kid is upset and so he gets "made" into a "pizza" which cheers him up
Kid is upset and so he gets "made" into a "pizza" which cheers him up
January 18, 2021
Fun story. Especially for pizza lovers.
December 10, 2024
It's not delivery, it's Pete.
This was very cute and I love William Steig's illustration. Appreciated that this made me weep less than Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.
This was very cute and I love William Steig's illustration. Appreciated that this made me weep less than Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 346 reviews